Locking mechanism for latches



May l3, 1930.

C. S. M CARTHY LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LATCHES Filed Dec. 19, 1925Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED. STATES ATENT, OFFICE CHARLES s. MQCARTHY,or TOLEDO, OHIO, nssreuoa TO THE AMERICAN swrss COMPANY, OETOLEDO, OHIO,A CORPORATION OF OHIO LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LA 'lGI-IES This inventionrelates to latches, but more particularly to that type of latches usedon automobile doors employing members for retracting the bolt, thesemembers being positioned in such a manner as tobe accessible from theoutside and inside ofthe automobile respectively. 7 V

Objects of this invention are to produce a locking mechanism for latchesof the type commonly used on automobiles which may be operated forlocking one of the handles against movement by an axial movement of theother handle, and so constructed that when the other'handle is turned apredetermined degree, the locking mechanismis automatically renderedinoperative; and to provide a simple and efficient lock for latcheshaving the new and improved constructional features hereinafterdescribed. 1 7 Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear andthe invention is shown by way of illustrationj in. the accompanyingdrawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a latch mechanism embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the latch mechanism shown inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig.eis a sectional View through the sliding latch retractor showing themounting of the retractor and the construction of one of the gearsectors; and Fig. 5 is an elevationalview showing a portion of thecammeans for moving the rocking member out of locking position.

The general construction of the latch mechanism shown on the drawings issimilar to that shown and described in my copending' application for.door latch, Serial Number 6,938, filed February 5th, 1925, so thatdetail description of this construction is not consid ered necessary inthis instance, and a brief description of the construction, arrangementand operation of this mechanism is deemed sufiicient.

On the drawings, the supporting plate 1 having a flange 3 is attached ina suitable manner to the door 4 andsupported on the plate 11 in spacedrelation therefrom is a the plates 1 and 4 is a latch bolt 5, the outersomewhat smaller plate 4:. Slidable between end of which extends throughan 7 opening in the flangeB to engage astationary keeper '(not shown) aswill readilygbe understood.

The latch bolt 5 is formed withteeth 6 on opposite sides thereof andthese teeth are engageable by a pair of connected toothed sector-s7through which the retractor rod 8 extends. It will thus be seen thatrotation of the rod 8 in a clockwise direction operates- 1 and 4 aremounted on the outer side of each sector 7 for supporting the rod 8.spiral spring 10 suitably mounted between the plates 1 and l has one endthereof bearing againstthe inner end of the latch bolt 5-for normallyholdingthe bolt 5 in its advanced position.

For normally holding the sector 7 out ofengagement With the teeth-6 onthe latch bolt 5 a coil spring 11 surrounds one end of the retractorbolt 8 and rotates the rod 8 to such a position that the teeth on thesectors 7 are moved away from the teeth 6 on the bolt. For conveniencein manipulation, a handle 12 may be connected in any suitable manner tothe outer end of the rod.

Additional means are provided for retract- .ingthe bolt 5 and-such meansextendat substantially right angles to the retractor rod 8. For thispurpose arod 13 is provided with a squared end Which projects into asocket formed in a cam memberl l which, upon counterclockwise rotationen 'agesa horn 15 fixed to the bolt 5 and thereby retracts the 35 bolt 5against the tension of the coil spring 10. It is to beunderstoodthat"asuitable handle may be attached to the outer end of" therod 13. When the rod 13 ismanipul'ated the rod 8 is inoperative so thatitwill be seen that the retractors operate independently of each other.i

An outstanding characteristicof this invention resides in the provisionof locking means for preventing the retraction of the latching bolt 5 byone of the retractors. This locking means is so constructed as to beoperable by the other retractor and preferably the other'retractor ismanually actuated to effect the locking, thereafter upon a predeterminedmovement of this retractor, the lock is automatically released. 7

It will be obvious that such an arrangement as above described is ofcardinal advantage on closed automobiles in which three or four doorsare used. By my invention it is merely necessary toemploy a key-condoorscan be locked from the inside by manipulating the retractor. on the,inside of the door so asto lock the outside, retractor against movement.

The locking mechanism shown on the drawings comprises a lever 16 whichis pivoted at one end to the plate. 1 adjacent the retractor shaft 8 andextends across this shaft terminating in the region of the cam member 14which is formed with a notch 17 toreceive the free end of thelever. Whenthe end of the lever 16 is positioned in the notch 17,

' turning movement of the cam member isprevented in bothdirectionstclockwise movement being prevented by the flange 2). v latwill be seen that the leverl6 is formed with a curved portion 18' whichpartially sur-- rounds the retractor shaft 8 and this portion isprovided with an inclined elongate slot 19 into which extends a pin 20fixe'd to the shaft 8. o

For actuating'the lever 16 to locking position, the retractor shaft 8 isformed with a squared end portion 8 which is slidable in square holes inthe toothedlsectors 7'. Thus,

by tapping orlightly hitting the outer end of the retractor shaft 8',this shaft is moved downwardly and the pinQQ engagingthe side of the,slot 19 moves the locking lever 16' to locking position. I p i In orderto, emit a clicking sound for audiblyindicating that. the lever 16 hasbeen moved to locking position, a groove 21 is formed in the lever 16'intermediate its ends and a spring arm 22 secured at one. end to theunderside ofthe plate l is adapted frictionally to engage the arm 16 andsnap into the groove 21; This arm also functions to hold the arm inlooking position PIG? vents the jarring of the Vehicle from accidentallydisplacing the arm.

The locking arm 16 is automatically moved from looking position when theretractor V shaft 8, isturne i a predetermined degree. It

will be apparent w e in us auto ob 'door may be unlocked from the insideby ur i g the hand e. 12. ope the doo o that the. doorhavingkey-eontrolled lock is first unlocked and the other dOQls are, unlockedfrom the inside, For accomplishing .t-his-, the1 slot 19 is inclinedupwardly on one side and formed inthe edge of the plate 1 isa notch. 23having a cam. sur a e 11 onwhi h a. W 24i fix d. to. the retractorfsha.t 8 beer Ehe cam ur ace. of the n t h 23 inclined similarly to theslot19 ut at, a grea er a gle- WYhen' the handle, 12 is turnediin acounterclockwise direction the pins 20 and 24 cooperate withthe slot 19and notch 23 respectively, axially to move the retractor shaft 8outwardly and thereby move the locking lever 16 away from the cam'member14 so that movement of the cam member is per- 7 mitted. r trolled lockfor one of the doors and the other a While I have shown and described aconstruction which satisfies the objects of the invention hereinbeforementioned, it is to be understood that thefabjove is given merely by wayof illustration and not of limitation, and numerous changes in detailsof construction and arrangement may be effected without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appendedclaims. iVhat I claim; as new and desire to secure by LettersP-atenhis;

"1. A latch; mechanism having. asliding latch belt, a pair ofindependently operable retract'ors for 'saidbolt, one of said retraetorsbeingaxially movable, a pivoted lever for locking one of said retractorsagainst movement, and a member carried by said axially movable retractorand slidably engaging said leverintermediate the ends whereby axialmovement of said axially movable retractor moves said lever tolockingposition.

2. A latch mechanism, having a sliding latch bolt, a pair orindependently operable beingaxially movable, apivoted lever for lockingthe other retractor against move- 'retractors forsa-id' bolt, one ofsaid retractors me-nt, said lever having a longitudinally elongateinclined slot intermediate the ends thereof, a pin on said axiallymovable retractor extending into saidseat whereby 4. A doorlatchcomprising a spring tensioned bolt, a roll back for said bolt, arotary and axially movable spindlefor retracting said bolt, a dogpivoted at one end and directly'engageable with said roll back at theopposite end, and a connection between said spindle and an intermediatepart of said dog for moving the latter away from the roll back 7 uponrotary movement of said spindle.

5 A door latch comprising a spring-tensioned bolt, a roll back forsaidbolt, arotary and axially movable spindle for retractingsaid bolt, adog pivoted at one endand directly'engageable with said roll back at the

